Al-ARISH, Egypt: North Sinai Security Chief denied in statements to the press rumors that amnesty will be granted to armed criminals who turn in their weapons. Security Chief General Saleh Al-Masry said that the Ministry of Interior will not release armed men implicated in the recent Arish attacks or any other incidents if they hand over their weapons to the North Sinai Security Directorate. “Negotiations with such parties will not affect the investigation into crimes which have taken place, whether it's murder, assault or destruction of capital,” Al-Masry announced in a statement. “Murderers will be dealt with according to the law and the constitution.” He explained, however that such initiatives may be discussed with to parties who used weapons for self-defense when there was a security vacuum, but committed no crimes. Al-Masry also assured that reports in the state-owned daily Al Gomhuriya and El-Youm El-Sabea website stating that a shadow government in the restive Sinai region is negotiating this amnesty deal are false, confirming that neither the Security Directorate nor the National Security Agency would ever take part in such negotiations. Granting amnesty follows specific rules and is issued by competent authorities in crime and through court rulings. “Whoever has committed a crime or stained their hands with the blood of innocents will receive no amnesty, whether the victims belong to security bodies or are civilians,” he said. He urged media outlets to be accurate in their coverage, especially on issues of national security and the police.
